Otogi Zoshi
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- For the Japanese medieval short illustrated stories see Otogizoshi.
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is an anime.
Story
Heian Chapter
The plot of the first 13 episodes is set in the middle of the Heian Era, where the people of the capital are in deep agony, focusing their last hopes on the retrieval of the 5 Magatama. The Magatama, being five coloured stones in the shape of a half Yin-Yang, represent the five elements of that time. These were Fire, Water, Metal, Gold and Earth. Legend has it, that if all five of them are laid together, their circle of Affinity will save the capital from its suffering. But that's not all. Whoever places the last stone is to become the new emperor of the capital. But three of them are scattered all over Japan. Of course, some ministers will try to become the new emperor by putting the last stone into place The emperor, relying on the prophecies of Abe no Seimei, an onmyoji, delegates the task of recovering the three lost Magatama to Minamoto no Raiko, who is the eldest son of the Minamoto-family. Raiko is struc by an epidemic and barely able to move. Therefor his younger sister, Hikaru no Kimi takes his place, disguised as a boy, by carrying her brothers name. With her subordinate Watanabe no Tsuna, a one-eyed samurai, she eventually collects all of the missing three Magatama. While on journey, she is supported by three more helpers, that aid her in any way possible. She encounters fierce battle, sees the dark dephts of human soul, caused by the possesion of the Magatama, and falls in love with Mansairaku, a sarugakushi. When she comes back, she not only finds her brother deceased, but the capital under attack by the owner of the fifth Magatama and discovers the scheme of Abe no Seimei, who had slowly poisoned her brother to death. In the final battle, Hikaru confronts Abe no Seimei, only to find out, that he is Mansairaku, her love. Threatening the capital with destruction by the reversed power of the Magatama, Mansairaku is now her greatest enemy. She tries to shoot him, but is held back by her feelings and instead tries to obtain one of the Magatama, to prevent the destructive spell. When she tries, the Magatama of Fire breaks, and the spell fails. After that Hikaru and Mansairaku are gone and all of her helpers die in battle. This ends the Heian Chapter.
Tokyo Chapter
The second 13 episodes focus on the reborn characters and their modern life in todays Tokyo. Hikaru being the landlady, all of the helpers in her previous life live under one roof together. Hikaru, owning a fragment of the Magatama of Fire, again acompanied most of the times by Tsuna, is in search of her lost brother, simply referred to as Raiko-Sempai. Her brother has been missing for a year now, only leaving obscure fotos and a clueless sister. While the story evolves, Hikaru is confronted with even stranger events, like the appearing of a ghost train on the Yamanote-Line, that describes a large circle in Tokyo. Sometimes she meets a strange man in connection with the events, that names himself as Mansairaku. These events however take place at locations, that represent the five ancient elements and are located all around Tokyo, drawing a pentagram over the Yin-Yang-Symbol the Yamanote-Line describes together with the Tozai-Line. Eventually Hikaru finds out, that the old spell of the Heian-Mansairaku has failed, but the power of the Magatama is still active. And as the Magatama of Fire is damaged, the circle is broken resulting in a confuse output of the Magatamas power. Again her city is at the brink of destruction, but with the help of her friends and Mansairaku she manages to merge her fragment with the Magatama of Fire, by that restoring the circle of Affinity and save the city. After that Mansairaku vanishes, having fullfilled his duty as the cities guardian, for he was the one who has put it in danger in the first place, and Hikarus brother returns. End of the Tokyo Chapter.
Episodes 25 and 26
While the first 24 Episodes are forming two connecting stories, the last two only focus on one character of the Tokyo Chapter. Episode 25 takes place one year before the events of the Tokyo CHapter and focuses on Urabe, a fortune teller and only female helper of Hikaru. Urabe solves a mystery and joins the others by living with them. The last episode is preserved for Mansairaku reflecting on his deeds and making some open question clear by him talking to a stranger about his mission to guard the city.
Summary
The first part, set in ancient Japan, recounts the struggle to obtain the five Magatama to fullfill desires and the greed of the mighty. The bond between the party is formed and the powers of the Magatamas are unleashed. The second part, featuring modern Japan, tells us about the strange events the broken Magatama cause. The near-Apocalypse is to be prevented and Hikaru is searches for her brother. All in all, the series is worthy to be seen, if you like Mystery-Tales.
External links
- () [Official site]
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